From the Desk of Harold Poole

On September 14 Missouri lawmakers in the House and Senate overrode Governor Jay Nixon’s (D) veto of SB 656, thereby recognizing the Second Amendment as the only carry permit law-abiding Missourians need.

The override passed the Senate on a Republican-led, party line vote of 24-6. The House quickly followed, overriding the Governor’s veto by a vote of 112-41.

Democrats and Michael Bloomberg-funded Everytown for Gun Safety had argued against the bill, claiming the lack of a permit requirement would endanger public safety. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) made similar arguments when opposing permitless carry in West Virginia. His arguments won the day in the 2015, but in 2016 West Virginia lawmakers overruled the veto of their governor to make the Second Amendment a sufficient carry permit for that state too.

In Missouri, the NRA, Breitbart News, and others continually pointed out that SB 656 was about self-defense and making it easier for law-abiding citizens to be ready to defend their own lives and the lives of their families. Bill sponsor Senator Brian Munzlinger (R-18) pointed out SB 656 would “allow law abiding citizens to protect themselves from criminals.”

Missouri now joins Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Montana, Vermont, Wyoming, and West Virginia on the list of states that recognize the Second Amendment as a sufficient concealed carry permit for law-abiding residents.